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Zimbabwe Tribune � Zimbabwe� Article
Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Zimbabwe's CFU slams Mugabe

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ZIMBABWE - HARARE - The Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) has slammed remarks by President Mugabe at the fifth conference of the Zanu PF Youth League last weekend.


ELECTION AND WIFE THIEF - ROBERT MUGABE

Mugabe sternly warned white farmers against resisting eviction orders. The president is reported to have urged "former" commercial farmers to embrace his sullied land grab.
"Once people have offer letters and they are valid, that's it," Mugabe said. "The farm is not yours any more. Please don't resist. 

I am saying please, please but that will stop.
"If we hear about any resistance, we will stop pleading. I will just send the police to drive them away. If they thought they would be saved by the inclusive government, kunyeperwa ikoko!"

The CFU said it was concerned by the possibility of putting in jeopardy the lives of all Zimbabwean people by sacrificing food self sufficiency for possible political gains.

The white farmers group warned the speech to the Zanu-PF youth may provide fuel for further politically- motivated violence and disturbances on commercial farms at a time where peace and stability are required to ensure confidence and increased agricultural production in the current summer cropping season.

"We believe these remarks are contrary to the spirit and tenor of the Global Political Agreement (GPA)," said a spokesman. "The CFU would like to place on record that farmers have complied with the criteria set out by the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and resettlement in that applications have been made to continue farming and occupation of their farms."

"To date, regrettably, government has not responded to the numerous applications which were made. It appears that government does not accept the legal rights of skilled commercial farmers, the majority of whom are also Zimbabwean citizens who bought land after Independence as opposed to being neo-colonialist British."

Mugabe's thugs have acquired white farmers land in an arbitrary manner and the farmers are now excluded from being allowed to use their wide experience, knowledge and skills for the benefit of all Zimbabwean people.

"The true legal interpretation of an offer letter is that it does not entitle a beneficiary to immediately take up a piece of land that has allegedly been acquired," said the spokesman. "It is merely a precursor to the possible issuance of a lease should certain further conditions be complied with."

The CFU said it was important that the ZRP at all times be impartial and to ensure that no selective application of the law is applied.

Elsewhere the president states: "It is the duty of the British to pay the compensation. We will only pay for improvements made at the farms."

"If this is the case," said the CFU, "we request that those of our members and former members, who may so desire, be adequately and fairly compensated for their improvements, equipment and materials without delay and without prejudice to
any other claims they may have against the state."

"It is regrettable that the vast majority of our members and former members, the majority of whom were driven off their farms over the past 10 years, have not received any form of compensation."

Compensation for improvements, which has been paid to only a few former farmers, has been criticised as being grossly inadequate and unfair. Only 200 farmers out of approximately 3 500 who have been forcefully evicted have been compensated.

In some cases the total amount paid equates to less than 10 percent of the total value of the improvements, CFU said.

"The CFU and its members have never disputed the need for genuine land reform that truly empowers all the people of Zimbabwe, irrespective of gender, race, belief or political affiliation and without destabilising agricultural production," the spokesman said. "We respectfully submit that this has clearly yet to happen."


 
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